If a river had ears, they would’ve heard
songs of the clouds and the rain
floating in the breeze above oceans
If a river had ears, they would bring me
stories told by gurgling, shrinking glaciers
imploding in warming streams
If a river had ears, the waters would know
all the secrets of dolphins and mahseer
it would play the scores of a whale’s song
If a river had ears, they would be blocked
and, when the waves hit the banks, the river
losing its balance forgets the course
If a river had ears, those would be pierced
their small holes plugged with white pearls
stolen from an oyster’s shell
Some rivers have ears
like ones flowing through Kashmir,
with their dainty drooping lobes,
pierced by bullets. Robbed of their
red-threaded golden dejhors,
the ears echo of unheard miseries.
